The Passion Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Lecture 50
THE L. LECTVRE, OF THE RESVRRECTION OF CHRIST.
IHON, CHAP. XXI.
verse 15 So when they had dined, Ieſus ſaid to Simon Peter, Simon the ſonne of Iona, louest thou me more than theſe? He ſaid vntounto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I louelove thee. He ſaid vntounto him, Feede my lambes.
verse 16 He ſaid to him againe the ſecond time, Simon the ſonne of Iona, louest thou me? He ſaid vntounto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I louelove thee. He ſaid vntounto him, Feede my ſheepe.
verse 17 He ſaid vntounto him the third time, Simon the ſonne of Iona, louest thou me? Peter was ſorie becauſe hee ſaid to him the third time, Louest thou mee? and ſaid vntounto him, Lord, thou knowest all thinges: thou knowest that I louelove thee. Ieſus ſaid to him, Feede my ſheepe.
WEE hauehave hearde theſe dayes paſt (Beloued in the Lord Ieſus) of the third generall appearance of the Lord Ieſus after His glorious Reſurrection. The place we heard was by the Sea of Tiberias. The perſons to whom He appeared we heard were ſeuen in number. The manner how He appeared, was by miracle by wonderfull working. He ſhewes a miracle in the Sea, by taking of many great fiſhes there: Then by land, by the extraordinary preparation of meat & fire to His diſciples, comming off the ſea to the land. To this He joyned ye third miracle, in keeping whole the net, ſo that there was not a threed broken, notwithſtanding of the great number of fiſhes taken therein. Thereafter as He manifeſted Himſelfe in His Godhead & diuine power in working of miracles; ſo He comes on more familiarly, & manifeſtes Himſelfe in His humane nature, & lets thē ſee, yt He was a mā, & ate & drunk with thē, as other men: therfore He ſits down, & dines with them, Hee eates Himſelf, & giues them to eat alſo: Then hauing dined, He enters in conference with Peter: which conference we hauehave to entreat of this day, as God wil giuegive vsus grace. The end of His conference with Peter was not to make him an Ʋniuerſall Biſhop, His Vicar here on ye earth, as the Papiſts ſpeake: that is to ſay, To make vp a Popedome: for the Papiſts make theſe words relatiue to that promiſe, which they ſaye He made to Peter before. Matth. 16.18. I ſay vntounto thee, Thou art Peter, & vponupon this Rocke I will build my Kirke. That was not the end: but ye end of it was to reſtore him again to his own rowm of th'Apoſtleſhip, from the which he fell: for Peter had made a foule defection frō his Lord, he denied Him thriſe, & ſo by this defection & threefold denial, he depriued himſelfe of his rowm of th'Apoſtleſhip, wherunto he was called. Looke how verily Judas fell by his traitorie, as verilie did Peter fall: for he that denies the Lord Ieſus, vntounto the time he bee reſtored againe, he cannot be a Chriſtian man (let bee an Apoſtle or Miniſter.) So in a word, the ende of this conference was to reſtore Peter again, by taking out of his own mouth a threefold confeſſion of his louelove to the Lord & of the hatred of that foule ſin which hee committed, by denying of the Lord. Indeed it is true, at Chriſts firſt meeting with His diſciples at Hieruſalē in a māner he was reſtored, becauſe he got a d…rection with the reſt, to go foorth & preach the Goſpel, where Chriſt ſayes, As my Father ſends me, ſo ſend J you, Joh. 20.31. Yet becauſe this was generall, therfore now to take all grudges and doubts out of the heart of Peter, & the reſt of th'Apoſtles, he has a particular dealing with him here in this place: & this he does in preſence of ſo many diſciples, for the greater confi…mation of his reſtoring: and herein the Lord vrges him thriſe, that He might draw out of him a threefold confeſſion, anſwerable to his thr…efold deniall. It may bee likewiſe, that in this conference the Lord had a great reſpect to recommend the ca…e of His Kirke, which He was to leaue behind Him, to Peter, & to the reſt of th'Apoſtles: for in the perſon of Peter, Hee ſpeakes to all the reſt. VponUpon this conference marke this generally: Firſt, that the Lord will not refuſe repentance and pardon to him who has denied Him, if his deniall come of infirmitie: Next, That it is the Lord only, who prouokes and allures a man to repentance, and who preuents him if he be careles of his ſinne. We ſaw before, that the Lord looked vponupon Peter, after he had denied Him in the Hall of Caiaphas & made him to weepe. Now He accompliſhes & brings to perfection yt worke which He began, & He vrges a threefold cōfeſſion. But to come to ye matter: The Lord begins to commune with him, & theſe are the words, Simon, the ſonne of Iona, loueſt thou me better than theſe? (pointing out the reſt of th'apoſtles) that is, more than the reſt loues me? This the Lord demands of Peter, not that He was ignorant of the louelove of Peter towarde Him: for Peter teſtifies this in his anſwere, when hee ſayes to the Lord, Thou knoweſt that I louelove thee. The Lord knew th'inward affection of Peter, as well as himſelfe did: So as for Himſelfe He ned not this confeſſion, nor to ſpeak one word, for He knew his heart: yet He vrges the confeſſion of the mouth, that that louelove which he ba…e in his heart, hee ſhould profeſſe with his mouth: wherefore, in demanding, He calles firſt of all, Peter to remembrance of his bragging, that he vſed a little before His Paſsion, when Pe…er ſtood vp & ſaide, Though all ſhould be offended by thee, yet will I neuer be offended. Matth. 26.33. As though he ſhould ſay, Though all ſhould leaue thee, I ſhall not leaue thee, I ſhall bee readie to goe to priſon, and to death, with thee. Therefore the Lord ſayes, Louest thou me more than theſe? Thē with this he calles to remēbrance that foule defection, for all his craking: as if Hee vvould ſaye, For all thy boaſting, PETER, remember thee of thy deni…ll. So in one vvorde, Hee prickes his conſcience, Hee rebuk…s him both for his arrogant vanting & alſo for his foule defectiō. This He does in effect: but if ye mark ye words, ye ſhal ſee ye pricking of him to be joyned wt ſuch ſweetnes in ſpeaking, as is wōderful, to be ſo ſeaſoned wt louelove as is marueilous: for Hee ſayes in effect as much as this, Howbeit Peter thou haſt fallen in thy bragging & vanting, and alſo haſt made foule defection from me: yet if thou repent thee, and turne to me, and if thou louelove me, there is place of pardon & forgiueneſſe. So ye ſee two contrary thinges joyned together, aſperitie and lenitie, ſoureneſſe and ſweetneſſe, rebuke and conſolation, caſting downe and raiſing vp, wounding and healing in one ſentence. The Lord in one ſentence, in one demaunde, at one time, yea, at a poinct of time, He could wound a man, and heale him. Some might thinke, ſeeing that this was the firſt conference that Chriſt had with Peter after his denyall, and that there ſhould hauehave beene another kind of meeting, and more ſharpe beginning with a run-a-gate, who had denyed his Maiſter thriſe: ye may thinke Hee ſhould hauehave vpbraided him, and ſaid, Run-a-gate, why deniedſt thou mee ſo miſchieuouſlie? Why againſt thy conſcience ſinnedſt thou ſo hainouſly? But He ſayes not ſo: but theſe are all the words, Simon the ſonne of Jona, louest thou me. The Lord was not a flyter, a chyder, an vpbraider, a cryer, &c. Therfore it was prophecied of him, My ſeruant ſhall not crie, nor make his voyce to be heard in the ſtreete, nor quench the ſmoaking flaxe, nor breake the bruiſed reed, Eſay. 42.2. Matth. 12.19.20. The ground was, That exceeding louelove to Simon Peter, the paſſing louelove to ſinners, eſpecially, to the ſecret ones, whom He had choſen: that louelove hid all their ſinnes, as Peter ſpeakes, in his firſt Epiſt. and 4. chap. So that if He ſpake an angry word to any, His anger was ſo tempered with louelove, that ſcarcely did it appeare. So learne this leſſon: Rebukers ſhould be louers: if thou rebuke a man, louelove him, otherwiſe ſpeake not to him, but cloſe thy mouth: for if thou ſeaſon not thy rebuke with louelove, then that which ſhould hauehave bene a medicine, wil be turned into poyſon. They that ſhould be inſtructers and admoniſhers, ſhould be louers. Wherfore, whatſoeuer thou doeſt, doe it in lenity & meekneſſe, and not in bitterneſſe. A bitter teacher is not vvorth a pennie. And this is it that Paul requires, 2. Timoth. 2.24. where he ſayes, The ſeruant of the Lord muſt not ſtriue, but muſt be gentle towards all men. All ſhould be in lenitie, teaching in lenitie, admonitiō in lenity. Wherfore? Becauſe if lenitie be lacking, there will be no edificatiō, no cōforting, no inſtruction If that which thou ſpeakeſt be ſmoothed ouer, and mixed with a gall of bitterneſſe, it will poyſon the man: Therefore, whatſoeuer thou be, whether Miniſter or other, looke that thou haſt louelove, and it will make thee to diſcharge all the pointes of thy duetie with lenitie. Now the Lord is not contented to demand this once onelie, Simon, the ſonne of Iona, louest thou me: but once, twiſe, thriſe. What needed this, yee will aske? was it not ſufficient to aske this once? What behoued this doubling & trepling? Brethren, this was not only yt he might make a threefold cōfeſſion anſwerable to his threefolde deniall, that ſo he might be reſtored: but alſo becauſe his threefolde deniall procured that he ſhould not be ſo ſoone and eaſilie credited: They that hauehave made a foule defection, as Peter did, certainlie they would be tried, ere they bee truſted. And Chriſt this day would learne vsus, that Apoſtates would be well tried, and their hearts would be ſounded, and ripped vp from the ground. A ſlender anſwere ſhould not content vsus: wee may not ſettle vponupon the ſwarfe of the heart, but the heart muſt bee pricked with manie interrogations, it muſt be lanced deepely, that if there be a ſpunke of ſinceritie & louelove, it may be raiſed vp, & appeare: for ye wil not thinke what deepnes of deceitfulnes lies in the heart of man, as Ierem. 17.9. ſayes, The heart is deceitfull & wicked aboue al things, who can know it? It is hard to thee to get thine owne heart ſoūded & tried: go thy way, & aſſay it, & thou ſhalt find it to be true, thou ſhalt bee beguiled with it, as well as another. And as for the ſinceritie of the heart, it is not in the vtmoſt ſwarfe, but it is downe lowe in the ground. Therefore thine heart muſt be touched, pricked, and lanced: partlie by thy ſelfe, and partlie by others, till that pure fountaine of ſinceritie and louelove breake foorth and appeare. There is the ſpeciall cauſe of this doubling. All this ſerues for the weale of PETER, howbeit hee tooke euill vvith it for euerie demand vvas a confirmation of PETER, in that grace of Apoſtleſhip. Now to come to PETERS anſwere: Peter ſaid vntounto him, Yea, Lord, thou knoweſt that I louelove thee. Behold the meeting, Chriſt ſayes, Louest thou me? Hee anſweres, Lord, thou knoweſt that I louelove thee. There is a ſweet meeting. When the Lord requires louelove of thee, then meete thou Him vvith louelove. This anſwere imports, yt His demand has bene very louing, vttered with a ſweet voyce and behauiour, and that Hee ſaide as much as this, I louelove thee Peter, louest thou mee? So in this demande Hee has touched the heart of PETER with the ſenſe of that louelove which Hee bore to PETER. Now this ſenſe opened the heart of PETER to louelove the Lord againe. 1. Ioh. 4.4. There will neuer man louelove the Lord firſt. It vvill paſſe thy power to louelove Him firſt: therefore of neede force the louelove of Chriſt behoued to be ſhed abroad in the heart of PETER, and hee behooued to bee touched with the louelove of the Lord, before hee could anſwere, Lord, I louelove thee. Therefore, if the Lord ſaye vntounto thee Loueſt thou mee? Saye, Lord, louelove mee, that I may louelove thee. And if euer thou wouldeſt diſcharge a duetie in this l…fe, ſtriue euer to finde that Ieſus loues thee, for elſe all His commaundementes will bee for nothing. But marke the vvordes: P…t…r ſvvould ſeeme not to anſwere the Lord as Hee propones: the Lord propones by way of compariſon, Louest thou mee bett…r than th…ſe? Peter anſweres ſimplie, Lord, I louelove thee: Hee ſayes not, better than theſe. I ſee heere a piece of modeſtie, more than hee had before: for before hee fell, he was ouer loftie and jollie, and thought little of the …eſt: But nowe I ſee after his fall, hee vvill not compare with the reſt, but ſimplie hee ſayes, Lord, I louelove thee.
Brethren, I ſee, that although his fall vvas euill, yet it has done him good: it has tamed him: he was ouer arrogant before. The defection of the godlie is verie euill: yet this is a ſure thing, that the fallings and the ſinnes, yea, the fouleſt defections of the godlie doe euer better them, and worke alwayes to their good. A vvonderfull thing: The Lord, who brings light out of darkneſſe, makes the defection of His owne to turne to their vveale. Has hee beene a proude man, an ignorant man, &c. the Lord vvill giuegive him a fall, Hee vvill caſt him downe vponupon his backe, and vvith that Hee vvill tame him, & make him to ſtink in his own noſtrils, as He did to Peter: for now vvhen he is fallen, & ſees his own vveakneſſe, he ſpeakes ſoberly, & makes no matching with the reſt▪ Lord, if th'Elect be much beholdē to God, for He makes all things to further them for their ſaluatiō. So in a vvord, No euill can come to the godly man. Yet the wordes vvould be conſidered: he ſayes not ſimply, I louelove thee: but, Lord, thou knoweſt that I louelove thee: he takes the Lord to be vvitneſſe to his cōfeſſion: as if he vvould ſay, It ſtands not in my words, but Lord, thou knoweſt, that I louelove thee. And ſo here he both acknowledges Ieſus to be God, (for He is only judge to the heart) & alſo approues the ſinceritie of his louelove to Him: for God is ſaid to bee witneſſe not ſo much to the confeſſion of the mouth, as to the ſinceritie of the heart. If thou loueſt the Lord, call Him to be vvitneſſe of thy louelove: and therfore beware of your confeſſion of faith and louelove to the Lord: looke yt it be with ſinceritie of the heart & not from the teeth forward & neb of the tongue only: but looke yt it riſe from the louelove which is rooted in the heart, for the Lord is witneſſe and judge of the heart, Hee vvill paſſe from thy wordes, and vvill looke in vvith a pearcing eye into thine heart, & rip it open, to ſee if there bee any ſinceritie of louelove there. So looke euer to ye heart, vvhē thou takeſt the Lord to be witneſſe to thee. Men cōmonly take no heed to this, they ſay, The Lord knowes, when they vvill ſpeake falſly. Ye ſhall find this cōmonly, that he who is the greateſt ſwearer & falſeſt man, is euer readieſt to take God to be his vvitnes: but vvhen he ſpeakes ſo, vvhat is he doing? euē crauing that God vvould ſend a vēgeance & judgemēt on him. Yet to vveigh the vvords more narrowly: he ſayes not ſimplie, Thou knoweſt: but vvhē he profeſſes his louelove to Him, he giues Him a reuerend ſtile again, & calles Him, Lord. No, th'Apoſtles carried to their Lord a vvonderfull reuerence. This learnes thee, vvhen thou makeſt a cōfeſſion, a profeſſiō, a proteſtatiō, vvherin thou nameſt ye Lord as it ſhould be in modeſty & ſincerity of heart; ſo ſhould it be in fear & reuerēce. That God who is full of glory & majeſtie, ſhould neuer be named, but with honor & reuerence, when thou ſpeakeſt to Him, ſpeake in reuerence: yea, thinke neuer of Him, but with reuerence. Well, theſe ſpeaches & proteſtations of men, wherin they name the majeſty of God, yt are ſo vnreuerend, raſh, & inſolent, teſtifies & ſais plainly, That in their hearts there is no reuerence to God: yea, they vtter, yt in their hearts they hauehave ſaid, There is not a God in heauē. But, O miſerable catiue, thou ſhalt find yt there is a God one day to thy euerlaſting dānation, I giuegive thee no leſſe doome. Cōſider further: when Peter anſweres ye Lord the third time, it is ſaid by John, yt Peter was ſad in heart, & giues a ſad & ſorrowfull cōfeſſiō, becauſe he thought the Lord, by ſo many interrogatiōs, credited him not, but d…ſtruſted him. Thē learne hereby what ſhould be ye properties of a true cōfeſſiō: as cōfeſſiō ſhould be in modeſty, ſincerity & reuerēce; ſo it ſhould be in ſadnes: ye cōfeſſiō of a ſinner muſt be in grief & ſadnes: there is no queſtion, but in his confeſſion he ſaw matter of ſadnes, & ſaw ye Lord by His vrging of him ſo many times would hauehave him to be ſad. This he perceiues, & therfore he is ſad, whē he confeſſes. So the cōfeſſiō of a ſinner muſt be with ſadnes of heart. Wilt thou come to the Lord with a wāton confeſſion, after thine accuſtomed mirrineſſe? No, no, for the Lord by pricking of Peter ſo oft, declares yt He has no pleaſure in a cōfeſſion, except it be in ſadnes. Therfore, when thou confeſſeſt, ſay, Alas Lord, th…t I cānot louelove thee ſo well as I ſhould doe, & would doe. Well▪ if the Lord ſeeke a confeſſion of thee, He will pricke thee, till He get a ſad confeſſion of thee. Now it may be asked, What ned this confeſſion once, twiſe, thriſe to be repeated? What needed Peter thriſe to ſay, I louelove thee? I anſwere: what needed P…ter to denie Him thriſe? Now certainly, that threefold deniall requires this threefold confeſsion: if hee had denied Him but once, it might hauehave bene, Hee would hauehave asked but once: if thou goeſt downe to Hell by degrees, wilt thou leape vp to Heauen without any degrees at an inſtant? No, no, looke by how many degrees thou haſt gone down from God, toward Hell, by as many degrees muſt thou approach to Him againe: for when thou haſt committed a great ſinne, thou canſt not repent enough for it: albeit thou ſhouldeſt weepe and mourne many dayes and yeeres, all is too litle. Many a time muſt thou cōfeſſe thy ſinne, which if thou doeſt, thou ſhalt both thereby glorifie God▪ and alſo obtaine a fuller aſſurance of the remiſsion of thy ſinnes: for the more thou repenteſt, & the more thou cōfeſſeſt thy ſinnes, thou wilt get the fuller perſwaſion & greater aſſurance that thy ſinnes are forgiuen thee.
Now I go forward: The Lord meetes Peter againe, when he hath profeſſed that he loued Him, Hee ſayes, F…ede my Lambes: & againe, Feede my ſheepe & the third time, Feed my ſheepe. Peter, ſeeing thou haſt confeſſed, that thou loueſt me, here I abſolute thee: the Lord ſayes in effect, I reſtore thee to thine office againe, be thou an Apoſtle, be thou a feeder of my ſheepe, be a Paſtor to me, this is the principall purpoſe: ſo that ye louelove of Ieſus reſtores a ſinner: it is this louelove that reſtores thee to the roome thou haſt beene in. But I inſiſt not heere: in this anſwere to Peter, ye ſee, how the Lord will hauehave thy faith & thy louelove to be manifeſted: No, ye cōfeſsion of faith & of louelove muſt be manifeſted in actiō, according to the calling the Lord hath placed eueryevery one into: hath the Lord called thee to be a king, Hee wil ſay vntounto thee, feed my people, as thou wouldeſt louelove me, & the Lord grant, ye Kings may take heed to this, & eſpecially, our King, yt as he profeſſes a louelove to Chriſt, ſo he wold feed His people: the Lord giuegive him this cōſideration: art thou a Miniſter, & ſayeſt, thou loueſt the Lord: well, the Lord will ſay to thee againe, feede my lambes, I neede none of thy feeding, thy louelove and well doing cannot extend the ſelfe to me, but do good to others who carie my Image for my cauſe. A profane mā or womā wt a ſhameles face wil ſay▪ I louelove God: the greateſt knaue of them all wil ſay ſo: but if it manifeſt not in an actiō, thou art but a lyar, thou loueſt Him not: faith & louelove muſt euer vtter thēſelues in good actiōs: haſt yu gottē a heart, hands & feet do ſome good, otherwiſe if yu doſt neuer a good deed, thy profeſsion of faith & louelove is but vain. Look 1. Ioh. 2.4. He that ſayes, I know God, & keepes not His commandements, he is a lyar, & the trueth is not in him. If a mā ſayes, I louelove God, & hates his neighbour, he is a lyar, ſo yt he ſhal be puniſhed, not only becauſe he did no good, but becauſe he was a lyar: there are many lying Proteſtants in this Land: they will proteſt they louelove God: but when it comes to the trial, the world ſees, yt they hauehave only a ſhew of religiō, & not ye power therof: there is anot…er thing here yet to be marked: vntil Peter had profeſſed he loued Chriſt, He bids him not feed His lambs: but looke how the one followes the other: therefore it muſt follow, yt feeding of the lambes of the Lord, muſt come of the louelove of ye Lord. If Peter had ſaid, I louelove thee not, Chriſt could not thē hauehave ſaid to him, feed my lambes: thē the leſſō is cleare: a mā cānot be a Paſtor, a feeder of the ſheepe of Chriſt, except he louelove Chriſt: No, there is none in any calling, yt can do any good deed, except ye welſpring of louelove be in his heart, if yt be not, he ſhall neuer do any good deed, all ſhalbe ſinne: thou mayeſt well flatter thy ſ…lfe, & others may flatter thee, & ſay all is well: but if louelove be not, how faire & glanſing ſo euer thy worke be, God coūnts not of it. No King in his calling ſhall euer doe a good deed, except he do it for louelove he beares to ye Lord: therefore, ſeeing a Paſtor ſhould learne all other folke to do their dutie: yea, ye King himſelfe, how much more is that louelove required to be in him, if hee would do rightly, ſincerely, & earneſtly: as for his feeding, it is more poyſoning than f…eding, if he hauehave not louelove to Chriſt: the Paſtor is not worth a penny, yt ſtriues not to get a ſenſe of yt louelove of Chriſt in his heart. The…e are ſo many difficulties & impediments caſt in to a Paſtor whē he is about to diſcharge his duty, which he can neuer be able to ouercome, except he both louelove ye Lord, & be ſenſible of the Lords louelove towards him: the life of a Paſtor is a thornie l…fe, and the more faithfull ye man be▪ ye moe vexatiōs & troubles will he vnderly: what is his life, but a cōtinuall t…ouble? with whō hath he to do? with a flock: for a Paſtor & a flock are relatiue: & what a flock? ſome are ſo dull, that teach he neuer ſo much & careful…y, they remaine rude and vncapable (many of this towne are guiltie of this) and if there bee any capable, they are ſo vaine, ſo wanton, & light headed▪ yt they vaniſh away in their own cogitatiōs: & againe, ſome are ſo infirm, yt eueryevery thing almoſt is a ſtūbling block, ſuppoſe yt mē giuegive no offēce, yet wil they tak offēce: ſome ſo malicious & indured, that the more the Paſtor cry, the more endure they their heartes, and rejects all wholeſome admonition: ſome will be ſitting vp before the Paſtor, and mocking him when hee is preaching, and when the Paſtor hath done all the pointes of his calling faithfully, he needes not to looke for any thing, but vnthankfull meeting in the end: No, the more faithfull a man be in his calling, the moe tentations ſhall hee bee ſubject to, to make him the more weake and feeble. If ye would have the proofe of this: looke 1. Cor. 4.9. What are we, ſayes Paul, God hath ſet vsus vp to be a mocking ſtocke, a …azing to the world, to the Angels, and to men: what are we? the ofscouring of the world, that is ſweeped out, to be caſt to the backe-ſide. Then what held him vp? and what held vp Peter? and the reſt of the Apoſtles and Martyres? What? but the louelove of Ieſus: if they had not loued Ieſus, and that exceedingly, they would ſoone hauehave fainted (we want the tenth part of that louelove to Ieſus that they had, alas, all is vaniſhed away.) Would Peter or Paul, or any of them hauehave borne out theſe things, if they had wanted the louelove of Chriſt, if it had not conſtrained them No, 2 Cor. 5 14. he ſayes, We are fooles, but for Chriſts ſake: for that louelove of Chriſt conſtraineth me: that is, the louelove of Ieſus occcupies ſo all my ſenſes, that it beares mee out: thereafter he reſolues that louelove which he caried to Chriſt, into the owne cauſe, where he ſubjoynes: B…cauſe we know, that if …ne be dead for all, then were we all dead: the ground of His louelove was: becauſe Chriſt loued him: and this louelove is the cauſe, that makes His owne to doe all, to ſuffer all for Chriſts ſake, to liue to Him, to die to Him: looke if thou findeſt, that Chriſt loues thee, & then thou wilt louelove Him: ſo that thou wilt not refuſe, if it were a thouſand deaths for His cauſe. O the louelove of Chriſt is a great gulfe! No, it will drowne greater perſecutions, than the Sea will: Pray therefore that the louelove of the Lord Ieſus may be in thine heart, that thou mayeſt louelove Him againe. Now againe, if the faithful diſcha…ge of the dutie of a Paſtor muſt proceede of neceſsitie from the louelove of Chriſt, as the effect frō the cauſe. Then marke, how ye ſhall know, whether a man louelove Chriſt or not: a King▪ a Miniſter, eueryevery Profeſſor whoſoeuer. Would ye hauehave a token? looke if he be faithfull in his calling: if this be a neceſſ…ry effect, then marke their works: by their works thou ſhalt know them: the louelove cannot be ſeene with the eye, it is vttered by a marke by the life, whē thou ſeeſt a man well occupied in his own calling: the King miniſtring Iuſtice, the Paſtor feeding his people, certainly, thou mayeſt ſay, Yone man loues Chriſt, but if the action be inlacking▪ what warrand hauehave I, that a man loues God, I hauehave none. The Apoſtle Paul, by the confuſions and perturbations which he ſaw to be in the Church of Corinthus, gathers, that the falſe teachers, theſe deceiuers louelove not ye Lord Ieſus: & therefore he denounces a judgment againſt them, ſaying, If any man louelove not the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, let him be had in execratiō yea, excōmunicated to death, 1. Cor. 16.22. I ſay, an vnfaithful Paſtor, who feedes his own b…lly, & not Chriſts ſheepe, is accu…ſed, not only becauſe he ſpoiles ye Church of Chriſt, but alſo▪ becauſe he loues not ye Lord Ieſus Woe ſhall be to him one day: & by ye contrarie: a faithfull Paſtor, ô what honour & glory ſhal he be exalted vntounto! Yet againe, theſe words would be conſidered: the word of feeding would be looked to: it is a borrowed word: to ſpeake properly, a Miniſter feedes not: it is an Heard, that feedes neat and ſheepe: the Scripture applies not this word only to Miniſters, but to Kings: for looke how buſie as an Heard is going about feeding his flock, as buſie ſhould a King be in his calling: a King is but an Heard ſet ouer to feed ye people of God: but the Scripture commonly in the New Teſtament applies it to Miniſters, becauſe in a Miniſter there ſhould be as great diligence, painfulnes & carefulnes toward ye people, as in ye Heard toward ye flocke: & if there were no more to teach this, this threefold & ſo earneſt cōmendation to Peter & the reſt were ſufficient. It is true, that ye Lord Ieſus Himſelf is the Prince of ye Paſtors: yea, properly He is only Paſtor, He is the Heard: & therefore He clam…s this ſtile to Him, Job. 10 1. For why? the flock is His, & not ye Miniſters: therfore He ſayes, Feed my lambes, then ye are his flocke, & He is your Paſtor properly. Againe, it is His food, that ye flock is fed with: all ye ſtore of ye fodder of grace is out of His barne. If a Miniſter miniſter to you ye ſmalleſt portion of food which is not taken out of ye barneyard of Ieſus, it is poyſon he giues you. Knaues hauehave deceiued ye world long: the Pope & his ſhauelings hauehave propined poyſon to ye people, & hauehave made many thouſands goe to Hell: giuegive Chriſts flocke Chriſts food. But notwithſtanding that Chriſt properly is ye only true Paſtor, yet louingly he cōmuninicates this His ſtile to them whō He employes in His ſeruice of ye Miniſterie. Thou yt art a Miniſter, He cals thee a Paſtor: but thou art but as a ſeruant laid vnderunder ye chiefe ſheph…ard: they are not Lords of ye flock: No, not the beſt of them: No, not Lords, but diſpenſators: ſo they are not prope…ly Paſtors. Seeing then, ſuch is the mercy of the Lord, that He ſo honours them, that Hee cōmunicates His ſtile to ye Miniſters: therfore they ſhould ſtriue to ſhew thēſelues worthy of that ſtile, by ye faithfull diſcharge of their calling, in feeding of ye flock. But who are they that ſhould be fed? Chriſt ſayes firſt, Feed my lambes: & then He ſayes twiſe, Feed my ſheepe: all is one, for ye Kirke is compared to a folde full of ſheepe. He ſayes not, Goe feed tygres, lions, wolues, but lambes, ſheepe. Who are theſe then? By theſe lambes & ſheep, the Lord vnderſtands His Choſen, (Bleſſed is hee that is choſen in Chriſt, for great is the number of them that periſhes, a very hādfull ſhall be ſaued) they muſt be more tame ones, ſillie ſimple ones, like ſheep. Ye ſee ye ſheep euer receiuing hurt, & neuer noyſom nor hurtfull to any other. Any beaſt will ouercome a ſheep, but it wil ouercome none: ſo it is ſilly ſimple ones yt are Chriſts ſheep. Now I mean not, yt all th'Elect are at ye firſt hand as ſilly as ſheepe: no, but yt they who were before like wolues, lions, tygres; by ye Spirit, through the preaching of ye word, by proceſſe of time, are tamed, and made like ſheep. No, no, whē Peter went out to feed thē, they were like tygres, raging in their luſts. No, the choſen by nature, before they be tamed & called, they are nothing differēt frō ye reprobate: they rampe and roare like liōs, albeit in ye ſecret coūſel of God, & His decree of predeſtinatiō, & by His grace, there be a great differēce betwixt ye one & ye other: for God only makes a differēce betwixt His El…ct, & the reprobate. What was Paul himſelfe, or any other, before they were called, but wolues & tygres? Thē ye Paſtor, albeit he find men as wolues & tygers, yet he ſhould not ſtay frō feeding of thē: no, he muſt preach ye Goſpel, yt therby he may make of wolues & tygres, lambes and ſheepe: for many of them that were like tygres, after they had once hearde the voyce of the Apoſtles, became ſimple as ſheepe. Nowe it may bee asked here, Seeing the Lord recommends vntounto Peter only His choſen to bee fed & inſtructed by him, ſhould th'Apoſtles hauehave care of any other, to feed and inſtruct, except of th'Elect onelie? Let it bee that theſe Elect at the firſt hand bee like wolues and tygers; yet the care of them onelie in this place is recommended vntounto Peter, and the reſt, by the Lorde. I anſwere, Albeit the Lorde recommende chiefelie the care of th'Elect, yet He excludes not the reprobate: for it is the Lordes vvill, that foode ſhould bee offered to them alſo: for the Paſtor cannot know who are Elect or Reprobate: & therfore, it is his duety to compt all to be elected, & to feed all: he muſt not be raſh in judgemēt. No man ſhould be ſo bold, as to preſume to giuegive out ſentence, who are choſen, or who are reprobate: for the LORD knoweth who are His, 2. Timoth. 2.19. Therefore, let him ſtay, vntill the Lord diſcerne who are elect: let the Paſtor count all to be Lambes, and endeauoure to feede all, yet his labours ſhall only be fruitfull in the Elect: for there is neuer one that is not choſen, that ſhall bee tamed by the word: all the preachings in the world will not tame a reprobate, but he ſhall euer be a Wolfe: indeede, a reprobate may for a ſeaſon take on a ſheepe skinne: that is, hee may play the hyprocrite, and may ſeeme outwardly to ſome to be godly, but truely and in effect, he will neuer hauehave true Faith nor godlineſſe. Now laſt, this would not be paſſed by, that the Lord bids Peter feed His, not another mans ſheepe, but His owne ſheepe: that is, them whome He hath redeemed and ranſomed with His owne blood. This word containes an argument, wherefore the ſheepe ſhould be fed: to wit, becauſe they are the Lords, ranſomed with His owne blood. And more than that, this vvord admoniſhes the Paſtor, that hee count not the ſlocke to be his owne, but the Lords, and that hee feede it not to himſelfe, to vſe the ſlocke for his owne gaine and aduantage. Iohn Baptiſt ſayes, Hee that hath the bride, is the bridegroome, but the friend of the bridegroome reioyces greatly, becauſe of the bridegroomes voyce, Ioh. 3.29. By theſe words Iohn ſignifies, that he wooed not the Church to himſelfe, but to the Lord, who is the bridegroome: And Paul ſayes to the Co…inthians, I am iealous ouer you with godly iealouſie: for I hauehave prepared you for one husband, to preſent you, as a pure virgine to Christ, 2. Cor. 11.2. For it is the moſt abhominable and deteſtable ſacriledge that can bee, to ſpoyle Chriſt the bridegroome of the Church His bride, & to take from Him His flocke, which Hee hath redeemed with ſuch a precious and glorious ranſome, euen the blood of God, Acts 20.28. Seeing then, that the Lord hath committed to Paſtors the Church, which is His owne Spouſe, and His Flocke, which He hath redeemed with no leſſe price, than His own blood, the LORD giuegive Paſtours grace to be carefull in feeding of them, with that food of life, furniſhed vntounto them by the LORD Ieſ…s: To whome with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, bee all praiſe, and honour, for euer.
AMEN.